New Genetics, Food & Agriculture: Scientific Discoveries - Societal Dilemmas

 

Table 1.1: Chronology of key developments in the science of genetics

1866 Mendel postulates a set of rules to explain the inheritance of biological characteristics in living organisms.
1900 Mendelian law rediscovered after independent experimental evidence confirms Mendel’s basic principles.
1903 Sutton postulates that genes are located on chromosomes.
1910 Morgan’s experiments prove genes are located on chromosomes.
1911

Johannsen devises the term “gene”, and distinguishes genotypes (determined by genetic composition) and phenotypes (influenced by environment).
1922

Morgan and colleagues develop gene mapping techniques and prepare gene map of fruit fly chromosomes, ultimately containing over 2000 genes.
1944

Avery, MacLeod and McCarty demonstrated that genes are composed of DNA rather than protein.
1952 Hershey and Chase confirm role of DNA as the basic genetic material.
1953 Watson and Crick discover the double-helix structure of DNA.
1960 Genetic code deciphered.
1971

Cohen and Boyer develop initial techniques for rDNA technology, to allow transfer of genetic material from one organism to another.
1973 First gene (for insulin production) cloned, using rDNA technology.
1974 First expression in bacteria of a gene cloned from a different species.
1976

First new biotechnology firm established to exploit rDNA technology (Genentech in USA).

1980

USA Supreme Court rules that microorganisms can be patented under existinglaw (Diamond v. Chakrabarty).
1982

First rDNA animal vaccine approved for sale in Europe (colibacillosis).

First rDNA pharmaceutical (insulin) approved for sale in USA and UK.

First successful transfer of a gene from one animal species to another (a transgenic mouse carrying the gene for rat growth hormone).

First transgenic plant produced, using an agrobacterium transformation system.
1983 First successful transfer of a plant gene from one species to another.
1985 US Patent Office extends patent protection to genetically engineered plants.
1986 Transgenic pigs produced carrying the gene for human growth hormone.
1987

 First field trials in USA of transgenic plants (tomatoes with a gene for insect resistance).

First field trials in USA of genetically engineered microorganism.
1988

US Patent Office extends patent protection to genetically engineered animals.

First GMO approved. Human genome mapping project initiated.
1989 Plant genome mapping projects initiated (for cereals and Arabidopsis).
1996 First commercial cultivation of genetically modified (transgenic) crops.
1998 First successful cloning of a mammalian species (Dolly, the sheep).
2000 Human genome map completed

Plant genome mapping projects for rice and Arabidopsis completed.
2001 52 million hectares of land planted to genetically modified crops in 13 countries.
DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid   GMO = genetically modified organism    rDNA = recombinant DNA  

Sources: Persley, 1990, ADB, 2001

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